Fishing the Missouri
©1-31-19, Olan L. Smith
The Missouri river calls for me,
And out of love for her I fish
Her banks and try to catch a meal.
I plant my rod in the sandy shoal
After casting my line in hope to lure
A channel cat to satisfy my want for food.
The long tired river flows to us,
And I have witnessed her rage outside
Her banks where she flowed from
Cliff to cliff, bluff to bluff, to take back
From farmers and brave cities who built
Too close. House tumbling down the river
As if it were nothing but in the way.
Levees fail, dams collapse; nothing stops
Her course to the Mississippi or her water's
Journey to New Orleans. Currently she's gentle
Flowing pass at a slow rate allowing me
A chance to take home my catch. Thank
You Big Muddy, you are both friend
And cleansing spirit for those who dare.
YOU ARE READING
Poems from the Quill, by Olan L. Smith
Poetry"Poems from the Quill" is where I place current works that don't fall into other collections. It is here you will find obscure poems that range from constraint to free-verse. I began this collection as a contest entry, years ago, for what was then t...
